| Working as a Car Parts Delivery Driver |
23 Jun |
While most people would be out working for UPS or delivering pizzas, I have found myself working as a delivery driver for a local parts supplier. As it turns out, it wasn’t my first choice, but when they did call, I could hardly say no - I needed a job.
But as time went on, I grew to appreciate the job that I did have. Our store specialized in Suzuki parts and OEM Ford parts (weird combination, I know). The job itself was pretty simple and for the most part pretty boring, but there were some perks as well.
The best perk of all is that I get to rub shoulders with mechanics and owners of some of the mechanic shops in town, and I have had the opportunity to see a wide variety of cars that I would have never seen. Not only that, but the car repair industry is just like any other - it pays to know the right people, which turns out to be the second benefit of the job.
Will I be working here forever? Well, I don’t know. There are some things that I would like to do, and I was hoping to go to school someday, so I will just play it by ear. In the meantime, I sure don’t mind what I am doing.
read comments (0)| Searching for Toyota parts at the local junk yard |
19 May |
Have you ever been to a junk yard? Perhaps you’ve heard it referred to as a wrecking yard? Or even an auto salvage? Regardless of what you might know it as, car grave yards have always been a fascinating place to me.
When I was a bit younger, and didn’t have the chronic back problems that unfortunately plague me today, I would not hesitate to jump down on the ground, slide under a vehicle and with the proper tools, go to town fixing whatever ailed the car.
I remember once needing some Toyota parts to fix a friend’s car, I hit the local Japanese car junk yard. This site was one of the “Pick and pull” varieties.
That meant that you took your tools, went out in search of the vehicle and part you needed, and pulled it off the car yourself. Sort of the “self service” approach to finding used parts.
Well, not everything could be found as salvage and the smart mechanic knew when to head to the dealership and buy genuine Toyota parts instead of trying to make something old and used go a bit further.
All in all, I do miss those days, however, writing is a much cleaner and neater vocation!
Posted by aNetCentral in Parts & Accessories on 05 19th, 2009
| Inspecting a Car before You Rent |
23 Apr |
When you get rental cars in Cancun, you have to fill out an inspection form. This has basic information about the car and includes things like rental time, mileage, and, the amount of gas in the tank. It also will have a checklist for things like functional seatbelts, windshield wipers, and mirrors. Pay particular attention to the part of the checklist where you are to make note of existing damage to the car. Many rental cars have stains, dents, tears, and scratches. Make sure that you are very thorough in marking down existing vehicle damage. Slow down and really take a look at the vehicle before you take it. If you see anything wrong, mark it on the rental company’s inspection sheet. Do not hesitate to point out flaws or damage. Also, make sure that you make a note of how full the gas tank is. You are expected to return the car with the same amount of gas as it had when you took it.
In order to get the most out of a Cancun rental car, be sure to carefully expect the vehicle before you drive it away. Be sure that the seatbelts, wipers, and mirrors work. Finally, pay attention to how much gas is in the vehicle so that you can return it with the same amount of gas.
Posted by AutoNet in Auto Dealer on 04 23rd, 2009
| Don’t Take Chances With Your Pet’s Safety |
30 Mar |
If you’re like most American dog lovers, you like to take your dog with you as you drive around town. But not every dog owner is smart about how he or she transports his or her four-legged companions. I cringe every time I see an unrestrained dog riding around in the back of a pickup bed. Sure, it’s great fun for your dog to stick his head around the side of the cab and get a blast of wind in the face, but what happens if, God forbid, you’re in an accident? If you don’t have your pets confined in dog boxes in the bed of your truck, they can be hurled out of the truck bed, smashed into the back of the cab at high speed, or get injured in other ways as they bounce around the back of the pickup bed.
It’s just a matter of physics, and big dogs are prone to worse injuries because of their greater body mass. So don’t take any chances with your beloved animal friends, folks. Keep them confined to a dog box, which is even better for safety than having them ride on the seats inside your cab. Did you know that if you have a small dog in the front seat and the airbags are deployed in an accident, that it could kill the animal from the sudden impact? Be smart and take good care of your animal friends. Another good thing to have on your truck if you are constantly transporting your dog is a truck bed liner. It will keep the back of your truck sanitary and easy to clean if you precious pooch has an accident. It is certainly important to keep your dog safe when hunting, or taking it along on other sporting activities.
Posted by NetAuto in Parts & Accessories on 03 30th, 2009
| Truck Parts and Memories |
12 Feb |
Isn’t it funny how we attach certain emotions to material items even without realizing it? I’m thinking of the fact that every single time that I see a Toyota part somewhere, I think of my dad. That’s because my dad was always working on one Toyota or another in the garage of our home while I was growing up. I have a lot of memories associated with watching him work, handing him Toyota 4runner parts while we had random conversations and seeing his pride swell when he’d get a broken part working again. Sometimes the memories that I have aren’t even specific memories but rather the recollection of sounds and smells and moments frozen in time.
It’s actually been a long time since Dad worked with Toyota parts. He got older and started taking his own truck to a mechanic and the garage got cleared of the mess of auto parts that were once stored there. In the intervening years, Dad has developed new hobbies and we have created memories around other things. Nevertheless, whenever I happen to stumble upon a Toyota part that I recall my dad using, I feel this rush of nostalgia and start to think about the past.
Posted by neta in Parts & Accessories on 02 12th, 2009
| Installing New Parts on a Mustang |
23 Jan |
I just went out and got a nice bundle of new upgrades for my Mustang. This car is already fairly tricked out, but who can’t use more upgrades huh? The beauty of owning a Mustang is the fact that Ford parts are so easy to install. Basically a one size fits all project. I’m not too much of a grease monkey either, but somehow I manage to get them all in without too much trouble. The only upgrades I won’t do myself are to the engine, drive train, or anything on the electrical system.
As far as I’m concerned any Ford racing parts should be installed by a professional. If you do one thing wrong under the hood you can say goodbye to you baby. Let the real surgeons do the heavy lifting. Basically, I only customize the visual aspect. If I need some extra power I call the garage and have them tinker with it. I’ve learned my lesson the hard way many of time and always found it best not to play with that sort of fire.
The next thing I really want to try after finding a couple Ford OEM parts is custom paint. I know you’re supposed to have a specialized vented booth, but I don’t mean a whole car job. Maybe just some air brushing on the hood and doors. Sounds like it could be some fun.
Posted by NAC in Parts & Accessories on 01 23rd, 2009
| Want to Rent Exotic Car |
22 Dec |
Next month is my 5 year anniversary with my wife. Obviously, this is a very important occasion, and I want to make the night something special that we’ll both remember for the rest of our lives. That’s why I want to see if there is an exotic Orlando rental cars place nearby. I think it’d be so neat to drive up to our favorite restaurant in an exotic Orlando car rental.
So, which car do I want? Honestly, I don’t have extensive knowledge about exotic cars, but I really love Aston Martins. Hey, who doesn’t want to drive the car that James Bond drives? Now I just have to find a place with Aston Martin rental cars in Orlando.
Of course, a Ferrari would also be an amazing car to roll in for a night. I know my wife would absolutely flip out if I came home with a Ferrari for our anniversary night. And you could bet we would get every dollar out of that exotic car rental. Maybe we could take it down to the beach after dinner or something. I’m sure it would definitely turn some heads.
What’s your favorite exotic car? Give me some suggestions for an exotic car to rent for the night.
Posted by NAC in Auto Dealer on 12 22nd, 2008
| Go For The Bull Bars |
12 Dec |
I am loving the look of bull bars and am planning to add them to my vehicle in the coming months. They are great looking and they add that high performance look to any truck, SUV or even on some cars. I am considering the products on the market carefully since there seems to be so many to choose from. My choices are centering on the Steelcraft Bull Bars and the T & H Bull Bars, but there are several other options on the market too.
When buying them, you have to think about what works on your car. For example, I am also looking into ladder racks. I want to buy a product that is functional and looks great for the vehicle. This may be a hard combination of things to do in some vehicles. For those who are looking for a Jobox, for example, you may be limited in some situations. Still, for perhaps the most unique car look, you have to go with the bull bar accessories on the market. Take some time to think about what will work and the look and function you want when buying accessories. Of course, you do want to purchase form a company that is trustworthy.
Posted by AutoNet in Parts & Accessories on 12 12th, 2008
| Bed Liner Bedlam |
12 Dec |
There were so many different styles and designs to choose from when I was looking for a bed liner for my Ford truck that I thought my head was going to spin. There is of course the traditional slide in truck bed liner that is the easiest and fastest to put in and use, and then there is the more permanent spray in bed liner. I was torn between the two and had no idea which one would serve me better. There are many different truck accessories to consider as well to use in conjunction with the bed liner. Different colors, sizes, and styles are all available depending on the type of truck as well as the size.
With so many different options to choose from I am sure that your head will spin. Make sure when you go to add items to your truck make sure you know what it is that you will want and how you want your truck to look. Have an idea and a plan so you do not look silly when you go to get the items and so that you know what items that, you will be getting to add on to your truck.
Posted by AutoNet in Parts & Accessories on 12 12th, 2008
| Electronics Dominate the Truck Accessory Market |
11 Nov |
When it comes to finding the perfect parts for your truck, you are going to have lots of things to look over. You will have to look through some things like air intake kits that will make your truck run so much more efficiently. You will also have to look at things like hood ornaments that will turn your truck into a better looking vehicle. What about the high technology for trucks, though?
If you know anything about the truck accessory market, then you understand that it is headed into a more technologically advanced age. This means that electronics are really taking over. These days, you can get Edge products that will turn your truck into a 21st century machine. You will be able to have electronic gauges so you know exactly what is going on with your truck’s performance.
All in all, it is important for truck owners to know what is new in the world of vehicle accessories. You don’t have to stick with the old, rusty technology that has always been so prevalent. Instead, you can get with all of the new products that are popping up on the market each and every day. If you want to find out more about truck accessories be sure to read my friends article “Finding Auto Accessories On The Web“.
Posted by AutoNet in Parts & Accessories on 11 11th, 2008
